Nike Air Stab trainer withdrawn after spate of knife murders

18 Jul 2008

The running shoes were originally sold in 1988 but a limited edition retro range was relaunched two years ago, carrying the phrase Runnin' 'n' Gunnin' on one version.

Although the sportswear company denied that the trainers glorified street violence, it said it had decided to stop selling them in light of the recent spate of stabbings.

A total of 53 people have been stabbed to death in London alone this year, many of them teenagers including 16-year-old Ben Kinsella whose death last month prompted a demonstration against knife crime.

Nike staff were themselves the victims 12 days ago when two security guards suffered knife wounds to the leg and back as they tackled a gang of shoplifters at the Niketown store in Regent Street, London.

A company spokesman said: "Given the current climate we have withdrawn the shoe indefinitely from Nike's own stores in the UK."

Keep going and ban all gangster fashions, music and video games.